Bllade bellt keeps breaking after 2 mowings LT 1042

[bamaman01]

I am at the end of my rope with the belts breaking or burning into. I ahve checked pulleys, try to level deck and yes, they are put on according to diagram. I have had this mower for 7 yrs and always replaced belts myself. This is the 5th belt replaced this season! Getting a little heavy on the ole wallet!
Can anyone give me correct guidence on this before i turn it out to greener pastures?
Thanks Alot

 

[Midniteoyl]

How easy do the spindles turn? Dont know your deck, are they greasable? Sure the belts not hitting a pully (or pullies) at an angle? What the idler pully and spring look like?

I assume this is the deck belt and not the mower to deck..

 

[aczlan]

Are you running the belt properly as verified by spinning things with the deck mounted and the engine off? The place I used to work for had a LT1050 and you could run the belt one way and it looked fine, but once it was underneath and hooked up, it was rubbing. The other thing to look for is if your tensioner arm/idler pully is swinging/spinning freely.
Are you using one of the kevlar wrapped belts, or a plain one?

Can you post a picture of the broken belt from the front and back so that we can see how it wore?

Thanks

Aaron Z

 

[rcbe]

that's a single drive belt - chk the spring-loaded idler pulley for no wobble on it's mtg shaft AND also that that the bracket it pivots on is both moving freely AND not wobbling at it's own pivot point. Lubricate/repair/replace as needed.

Spin each blade quill shaft by itself - s/b smooth with little/no noise/wobble. Chk position of belt keepers around PTO pulley.

If all good there, re-level deck making sure to measure from just under blade cutting edges to ground (not deck shell edge). Invest in one of those measuring devices tha JD dealers sell - good investment.
Adjust/level deck to owners manual procedure and specs, not personal preference.
If you don't have a manual get the FULL model # and S/N from the decal in the cavity under the tilting seat - go to the MTD manuals archives website (google it) and download a pdf free copy.
Replace belt with OEM Kevlar wrapped belt (pricey, but needed) (aftermarket cheapies won't cut it).

good luck.

 

[savageactor7]

bamaman01 If that model has a quick disconnect hitch it is possible to route the belt under the bottom of the hitch...the belt will still operated the deck like normal but will not last that long.

 

[nworbekim]

i had a similar experience with my tank. i was breaking belts every 2 to 3 mowings and in frustration took the tank to the dealer and said FIX IT! i'm not sure how he did it, but i understand he adjusted the position of the deck to give the belts some slack. worked great afterwards. another time, i couldn't figure out why it was breaking belts, and took it in... they found there was a gravel lodged in one of the pulleys that was shredding the belt as it passed over the rock. a third time i broke a bunch of belts, i had been cutting tall grass and got into the habit of after cutting, i would raise the deck as high as i could and go back over the grass, spreading it out to make it look better. i could find no reason for belts breaking... back to dealer... he said the top position was transport only and the pulleys were misaligned in that position. i stopped doing that and belts stopped breaking.

these are probably not your problem, but maybe they'll give you an idea that will help. good luck, i know how frustrating it is. i went and bought a used 2100 series as a backup, i was breaking belts so often on the tank. haven't broken one in a long time (crossing my fingers) but i probably will now, that i've bragged about it.

 

[The kid]

I am at the end of my rope with the belts breaking or burning into. I ahve checked pulleys, try to level deck and yes, they are put on according to diagram. I have had this mower for 7 yrs and always replaced belts myself. This is the 5th belt replaced this season! Getting a little heavy on the ole wallet!
Can anyone give me correct guidence on this before i turn it out to greener pastures?
Thanks Alot

You might find this link interesting. It shows service procedure employees must learn before servicing a CC. I found it very informative for my mower. -kid

http://service.mtdproducts.com/Training_Education/769-01760/Section 2/

 

[gladiater]

I am at the end of my rope with the belts breaking or burning into. I ahve checked pulleys, try to level deck and yes, they are put on according to diagram. I have had this mower for 7 yrs and always replaced belts myself. This is the 5th belt replaced this season! Getting a little heavy on the ole wallet!
Can anyone give me correct guidence on this before i turn it out to greener pastures?
Thanks Alot

is the org belt on this machine a 954-04045 belt if so cc had a lot of prob's with belt breakage you need to go to a dealer and have them change the deck to a 954 -04060 belt set up either the 06 or 07 model uses this belt, a lot of bracket's need to come off your deck,if your machine use's a 954-0405 belt.your pulley's can be used,this will solve the problem have changed over many and it work's, as a matter of fact it's the same belt cc uses on ther current ltx1142 deck's

 

[The kid]

I am at the end of my rope with the belts breaking or burning into. I ahve checked pulleys, try to level deck and yes, they are put on according to diagram. I have had this mower for 7 yrs and always replaced belts myself. This is the 5th belt replaced this season! Getting a little heavy on the ole wallet!
Can anyone give me correct guidence on this before i turn it out to greener pastures?
Thanks Alot

Which belt are you replacing. Drive to PTO, PTO to deck, deck ?

 

[aczlan]

Which belt are you replacing. Drive to PTO, PTO to deck, deck ?

Its an LT1042. one belt goes on the electric PTO clutch and runs all three blades.

Aaron Z